Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Miriam Cates Question to Pm

83 replies

poshme · 12/10/2022 12:42

Brilliant question to PM on mermaids- listing some of the recent issues and asking whether police should be investigating.

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 13/10/2022 11:03

Emma Burnet on the other hand is a disappointment...

To be fair to Emma she has to give voice to the other side, I think she handled it well. She also finished the programme on a text message which thanked Miriam for speaking out.

RhannionKPSS · 13/10/2022 10:59

If you are reading this thank you again Miriam for speaking up both yesterday & today on Woman’s Hour.
Emma Burnet on the other hand is a disappointment...

LizzieSiddal · 13/10/2022 10:58

Saying they've given a day of respite does not seem to deal with the core issues in any way.

Indeed, I wonder if they could provide a support dog and a parent for each session?

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 13/10/2022 10:57

Why would they safeguard their volunteers? They don't safe guard the children.

Miriam is very good. I suspect Liz Truss is relieved to have a chance/excuse to get on with sorting this out.

I also think that Mermaids will go down, and Stonewall will strengthen.

ResisterRex · 13/10/2022 10:53

If there is abuse happening on the helplines, why provide only respite? Are you then knowingly putting people into an unsafe work situation and failing in your H&S duties? I don't understand the reasoning.

Plus as has been observed on here, helplines sadly do get abusive calls. So those manning the phones have to be trained in how to deal with that.

Saying they've given a day of respite does not seem to deal with the core issues in any way.

JoyousAsOtters · 13/10/2022 10:52

Thank you Miriam.

nauticant · 13/10/2022 10:49

Twitter is not happy about MC being interviewed.

Oh, apparently the helpline closed for one day to give workers a respite from the high volumes of calls and the abuse. Is the narrative shifting?

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:49

EB getting pedantic about 'allegations' against Mermaids, but taking abuse being the reason for the chatline being closed as gospel. Annoying.

Ramblingnamechanger · 13/10/2022 10:48

And deflecting diverting questions from possibly a regular visitor here…

nauticant · 13/10/2022 10:48

An email to ask MC about Mermaids' helpline having been closed "because of abuse".

Ramblingnamechanger · 13/10/2022 10:47

Great interview. At last. Miriam very strong and actually supportive of lesbians.
when will other MPs such as Alex Sobel be questioned about their involvement with Mermaids (and Stonewall)

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:45

MC must be a Mumsnetter. She is incredibly well informed and articulate on this. She's obviously been following it for a very long time indeed.

If you are here, Miriam, heartfelt thanks for speaking up.

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:44

"Enormous safeguarding scandal that has been missed"

Emma Barnett has her devil's advocate hat on today, which is giving Miriam Cates good opportunity to outline exactly how much Mermaids have eluded basic safeguarding protocols.

LizzieSiddal · 13/10/2022 10:43

Safeguarding, safeguarding, safeguarding.

LizzieSiddal · 13/10/2022 10:43

She is vocalising exactly what is going on.

nauticant · 13/10/2022 10:42

Miriam Cates says that the Conservatives need to own this but it's not a party political matter, it's been happening everywhere, people aren't asking questions, and certain organisations have been exceptionalised from normal safeguarding procedures.

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:40

Here we go...

Miriam Cates is very much on it, isn't she? "Absolutely devastating what's happening to these children."

LizzieSiddal · 13/10/2022 10:40

Listening

nauticant · 13/10/2022 10:38

The segment has just started.

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:23

Thank goodness for Emma Barnett.

You could tell how nervous JS was in that part of the conversation. Now it's moved on she's very obviously relaxed and relieved. She's definitely GC and just can't quite bring herself to throw that grenade into her career and derail the publicity for this play, can she?

OldCrone · 13/10/2022 10:22

ScrollingLeaves · 13/10/2022 09:23

On the radio news this morning it was mentioned. Apparently the police said that binding someone’s breasts may be illegal but supplying breast binders is not. ( I may not have remembered the very words.)

What about supplying them to children when they know the child's parents don't want the child to use them?

Does an age restriction apply?

nauticant · 13/10/2022 10:20

Emma Barnett has not been on the show for a while and here she is, back, and it's taking a free speech and gender critical turn.

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:17

JKR now being mentioned.

I think that Juliet Stevenson is sending out strong but covert GC signals.

WinterTrees · 13/10/2022 10:16

Interesting discussion with Juliet Stevenson right now, about being afraid to say what you think in online discussion....

nauticant · 13/10/2022 10:15

And I was late with the news, with others getting there long before me!